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Talib Earns Spot At Nickel Corner

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By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 26, 2008

TAMPA - When the Bucs selected Aqib Talib in the first round of the draft in April, their hope was that he would immediately step in as their nickel cornerback.

When the season starts for real in 13 days, that's exactly what Talib will do.

Barring an injury or some other unforeseen development, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Kansas product will start the season as the Bucs' third - or nickel - corner, secondary coach Raheem Morris said.

"As of right now, yes, he's our third corner," Morris said Monday. "But who knows if he's going to stop there. If he keeps playing and fighting and improving, he could be a starter in this league for who knows how long."

Starting Talib is the Bucs' ultimate goal, but with Ronde Barber and Phillip Buchanon ahead of him, they don't feel a need to rush Talib into the starting lineup.

Besides, Talib figures to get near starter's reps as a nickel corner anyway. The Bucs employed a nickel defense on 48 percent of their defensive plays last year.

"We use that nickel defense a lot so you've got to have somebody in there who can play," Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said. "That guy's got to be just as good as your starters."

Talib has been that during the preseason. He has recorded three tackles and a pass defense in exhibition games. He's also proved to be a quick study in the meeting room as well.

"He's worked hard every day and been conscious of the details," Morris said. "He can speak the language and he's a valuable asset in the room. He gives us youth, playmaking experience and ball skills.

"All of those things make him the third corner right now, but I can't wait to see him grow up, because he's still learning and isn't comfortable with everything yet. That means he's only going to keep pushing people ahead of him."

GET READY: The final preseason game is usually reserved for young players on the bubble. Not this year.

With two key starters still trying to knock the rust off bodies that have seen little or no action even during practice, the Bucs are seriously contemplating playing their regulars for at least a series or two Thursday against Houston.

"We're telling everybody to go about their business as if they're starting," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said when asked if QB Jeff Garcia and receiver Joey Galloway might play Thursday. "We'll make those decisions when we get to the stadium in Houston."

Gruden left open the possibility of Garcia playing because of the way he struggled in his debut Saturday, throwing two interceptions in less than a half. Gruden left open the possibility of Galloway playing because the receiver didn't even start practicing full time until Monday.

Gruden said Galloway did not appear to be limited in any way by the groin strain that has hampered him since before the start of training camp. At the same time, Gruden wondered if getting Galloway into a couple of series against the Texans would do much to get him ready for the regular season.

"I've done the math on this," he said. "Joey played 26 snaps in the preseason last year and 22 the year before. So if you play him 12 plays in this game, is that going to get him ready to play in the regular season? All I know is he looked great today. I take that as good news."

LEARNING CURVE: Rookie RG Jeremy Zuttah continued to take snaps with the first-team offensive line Monday. He likely will make his second start in place of the injured Davin Joseph on Thursday.

Zuttah came away from his first start against the Jaguars on Saturday feeling good about his performance, but he said he learned at least one valuable lesson during that game.

"There are a couple of things I have to get ironed out," he said. "It's mostly little things, bad habits that I was able to get away with in college that you can't get away with here."

BUCS BITS: The Bucs must reduce their roster from 80 to 75 players by 4 p.m. today. ... Gruden said LB Antoine Cash did not suffer any structural damage to his neck or back when he collided with teammate Marcus Hamilton during a fourth-quarter play Saturday. Gruden said Cash will probably be out another week to 10 days. Hamilton suffered a hip injury on the play. It's "very doubtful" he'll play against Houston, Gruden said. ... Other injured players who could be held out against the Texans include WR Antonio Bryant (knee), FB B.J. Askew (ankle) and TE Ben Troupe (foot). WR Michael Clayton (chest muscle) was held out of workouts Monday but should return today.

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